“You can’t, Jared,” he choked. “You wouldn’t. Wanda’s good. She’s my friend! And Mel! What about Mel? You can’t kill Mel! Please! You have to —” He broke off, his expression agonized.

I closed my eyes again, trying to block the picture of the suffering boy from my mind. It was already almost impossible not to go to him. I locked my muscles in place, promising myself that it wouldn’t help him if I moved now.

“So,” Jeb said, his tone far too conversational for the moment, “you can see that Jamie’s not in agreement. I figure he’s got as much say as you do.”

There was no answer for so long that I had to open my eyes again.

Jared was staring at Jamie’s anguished, fearful face with his own kind of horror.

“How could you let this happen, Jeb?” he whispered.

“There is a need for some talk,” Jeb answered. “Why don’t you take a breather first, though? Maybe you’ll feel more up to conversation after a bath.”

Jared glared balefully at the old man, his eyes full of the shock and pain of the betrayed. I had only human comparisons for such a look. Caesar and Brutus, Jesus and Judas.

The unbearable tension lasted through another long minute, and then Jared shook Jamie’s fingers off his arm.

“Kyle,” Jared barked, turning and stalking out of the room.

Kyle gave his brother a parting grimace and followed.

The other dirty members of the expedition went after them silently, Paige tucked securely under Andy’s arm.

Most of the other humans, all those who had hung their heads in shame for admitting me into their society, shuffled out behind them. Only Jamie, Jeb, and Ian beside me, and Trudy, Geoffrey, Heath, Lily, Wes, and Walter stayed.

No one spoke until the echoes of their footsteps faded away into silence.

“Whew!” Ian breathed. “That was close. Nice thinking, Jeb.”

“Inspiration in desperation. But we’re not out of the woods yet,” Jeb answered.

“Don’t I know it! You didn’t leave the gun anywhere obvious, did you?”

“Nope. I figured this might be comin’ on soon.”

“That’s something, at least.”

Jamie was trembling, alone in the space left by the exodus. Surrounded by those I had to count as friends, I felt able to walk to his side. He threw his arms around my waist, and I patted his back with shaky hands.

“It’s okay,” I lied in a whisper. “It’s okay.” I knew even a fool would hear the false note in my voice, and Jamie was not a fool.

“He won’t hurt you,” Jamie said thickly, struggling against the tears I could see in his eyes. “I won’t let him.”

“Shh,” I murmured.